Andrew Cuomo leaves Il Postino restaurant in Manhattan, New York City on Monday, December 19, 2022.
Gardiner Anderson | New York Daily News | Getty Images
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo subjected at least 13 women to a “sexually hostile work environment” while in office, Justice Department says Said It will be held on Friday as part of an agreement with the province’s current government.
Cuomo “repeatedly subjected these female employees to nonconsensual sexual touching, harassment, offensive sexual comments, gender-based nicknames, comments about their appearance, and/or preferential treatment based on their appearance.” The Department of Justice said it was certified. .
The Justice Department said in August 2021, the same month that Cuomo resigned amid mounting sexual harassment allegations, that the governor’s office under Cuomo was aware of his conduct but failed to effectively stop it. The conclusion was drawn from an investigation that began in May.
Mr. Cuomo’s office instead worked to protect the then-governor from further accusations, and senior officials retaliated against four women whom Mr. Cuomo had harassed, the Justice Department said.
Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavine, said in a statement to CNBC that the former governor “did not sexually harass anyone.”
“The Department of Justice’s ‘investigation’ was based entirely on a deeply flawed, inaccurate, biased, and misleading report by the New York State Attorney General,” Glavine said.
The report, released on August 3, 2021, found that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women and retaliated against at least one former employee who came forward with accusations.
“The Department of Justice has never contacted Governor Cuomo regarding these issues,” Glavine said Friday. “This is nothing but a political solution without an investigation.”
The Ministry of Justice agreement The move is to resolve allegations that Cuomo’s office “engaged in a pattern or practice of sexual harassment and retaliation,” in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The Justice Department said its agreement with the New York State Executive Chamber, now led by Gov. Cathy Hochul, commemorates reforms she has already implemented and commits the department to enacting additional reforms.
The agreement also states that the Justice Department will refrain from prosecuting the allegations as a “consideration” to the executive branch as it prepares to enter into the agreement.
Hochul said in a statement that after taking office, he will take “immediate action” to “eradicate the culture of harassment that has plagued the Executive Chamber and implement strong policies that promote a safe workplace for all employees.” ” he said.
“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice recognizes the importance of these efforts and look forward to partnering with them as we build on their successes,” Hochul said.
Rich Azzopardi, Mr. Cuomo’s press secretary, told CNBC that the agreement does not include “findings on the merits of the litigation.”
In a separate statement, Azzopardi suggested there was a conflict of interest because Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney who signed the agreement, was a law partner of Joon Kim, who led the New York State Assembly’s 2021 investigation of Cuomo.
“This does not deserve the paper it is printed on, and ironically, Governor Hochul himself is being accused.” Retaliationsigned it,” Azzopardi said.
But Marian Wang, an attorney for two women who Mr. Cuomo allegedly harassed, Alyssa McGrath and Virginia Limiatis, praised the agreement.
“I am pleased that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the executive branch have taken serious steps to ensure that the type of abuse committed by Mr. Cuomo never happens again,” Wang said in a statement.
“We hope that these measures will have a real effect and prevent repeated abuses of power that have caused so much harm to so many women,” Wang said.